I see more death and less life — but I’m happy to get $120m for a Scream

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Bidding for The Scream started at $40 million, but quickly rose to record levelsAFP

Will PaviaNew York

Published at 12:01AM, May 4 2012

The executive vice-president of Sotheby’s held the telephone in one hand and
clutched his forehead with the other while a distant client deliberated on
whether to spend $120 million (£74 million) on a portrait of modern misery.

“Stephane, who is he talking to?” asked Tobias Meyer, the auctioneer, of the
anonymous collector on the other end of the line. “Is he out?”

More than a thousand men and women in suits and gowns strained to catch the
conversation. From a large screen above the frazzled-looking vice-president,
a familiar wraith-like figure stared out, mouth agape, hands covering his
ears as if